Gambiacollege: a System of Quality Assurance in the PTC DE Component

Annex B:

GambiaCollege: A system of Quality Assurance in the PTC DE component

1. Proposed Intervention

3.1Overall Development Objectives

The establishment of an effective system of quality assurance in the Gambia College PTC DE programme will assist the College in:

• improving their own systems for administering educational provision at a distance
• providing schools with able and enthusiastic trainee teachers and recently-qualified teachers
• ensuring that the basic education system has teachers who combine relevant and child-centred teaching skills with a comprehensive knowledge of the Lower Basic curriculum in all subjects.

3.2Project Purpose

The School of Education at GambiaCollege recognises that there are a number of shortcomings within the existing system for administration and support of the PTC DE component. The basis of these shortcomings include:

• human resources and human resource management within the School of Education
• a lack of IT facilities and a need to establish IT systems and skills within the administrative fabric of the school
• a need for further skills in designing and maintaining educational administration systems, particularly regarding the provision of education at a distance

3.3Project Results

The establishment of system of Quality Assurance in the PTC DE component will provide the College with a clear and comprehensive means of monitoring staff activities relating to the DE component, tracking student progress throughout the PTC course, and ensuring that necessary academic and administrative support is provided to both individuals and cohorts in a timely and efficient manner.

Through the establishment of such a system, all Trainee Teachers will be provided with the scheduled academic and pastoral support in a timely and uniform manner. In addition, the College will also be able to respond more efficiently to the needs of individual trainees across the country. This will contribute significantly to the quality of education that the PTC DE component will provide.

3.4Project Activities

There are a number of inputs that will be provided to the School Of Education in order to assist and guide them. These will be undertaken by the ODL Consultant in close collaboration with the Teacher Development Consultant. The inputs include the following:

• The development of a Task-Based Team within the School Of Education to oversee and report on ODL project activities
• Assistance in the development of detailed ToRs for the School’s Distance Education Unit
• Assistance in assessing and re-designing the current Distance Education administration systems, with a view to assuring further quality
• Assistance in assessing and re-designing the current modes of learning delivery and assessment within the PTC DE component
• Assistance in an assessment of the current Distance Education materials, covering such broad areas as:
• Workload
• Content
• Objectives
• Guidance and advice in editing and re-working the existing materials according to identified learner needs
• Further skills development for GambiaCollege staff in designing and developing distance education programmes

1. Assumptions

4.1Assumptions at different levels

GambiaCollege and the School of Education receive their budget for various activities from DoSE. As such, in order to undertake certain activities, including those related to the DE component, the College relies on both the availability and the regular and timely dispersal of those funds from DoSE. It is assumed that funding will be available and provided when required by the School of Education.

4.2Risks and Flexibility

In cases where that funding is not available, and where the result is the inability of the College to undertake key activities related to this project, it will be necessary to maintain a flexibility and responsiveness of scheduling.

1. Implementation

5.1Physical and Non-physical means

The project will undertake a series of technical inputsdesigned to help build on the College’s existing quality assurance systems. It will also monitor progress on a periodic schedule agreed with the College’s Task-based Team and the Implementation Team Leader.

5.2Organisation and implementation procedures

This activity will be led and coordinated by the GambiaCollege’s Task-based Team Leader, Sulayman Barry, who will report to the Implementation Team Leader. He will also be expected to report on project activities to the Head of School.

Other members of the Task-Based Team will include:

• Demba Jallow, DE Coordinator
• A member of the School secretarial staff

They will receive assistance in undertaking the Task-based activities from the Implementation Team Leader and the Head of School, with inputs from the ODL Consultant.

Activities will include the following:

• The establishment of a dedicated DE Unit within the School of Education
• The development of detailed Terms of Reference for the DE Unit
• The development of detailed Terms of Reference for the DE Coordinators and Administrative staff
• The development of the DE Unit’s technical, administrative and skills-based capacity to undertake key programme activities
• The identification of funding sources for recurring programme costs, including:
• Materials production
• Materials distribution
• Assignment marking
• Teaching practice observation
• The development of a detailed financial proposal for regular programme activities covering the next three years, based on anticipated student numbers, to submit to DoSE
• The design and implementation of effective systems for programme delivery, covering all programme activities, including:
• Materials production
• Materials distribution
• Assignment marking
• Assignment feedback
• Teaching practice observation
• Teaching practice feedback
• Student tracking
• Academic student support
• Administrative student support
• Records keeping
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• The establishment and maintenance of an effective Student Records database, detailing student progress and College inputs throughout the PTC programme.
• The monitoring and evaluation of programme effectiveness
• An assessment of the potential for re-working the existing PTC DE materials, in light of a) comments regarding student workloads, numbers of assignments, relevance of content, etc; b) the proposed re-writing of the PTC syllabus and re-structuring of the PTC programme.
• The development of a detailed proposal for re-working the DE materials, including potential costs, module outlines and a schedule of activities.
• A re-working of the DE materials in collaboration with the School of Education, based on recommendations.

5.3Time schedule

1. The establishment of DE Unit

1. The development of detailed Terms of Reference for the DE Unit and Staff

1. The development of the DE Unitcapacity

1. The identification of funding sources for recurring programme costs

1. The development of a detailed 3 yr financial proposal

1. The design and implementation of effective systems for programme delivery

1. The establishment and maintenance of an effective Student Records database

1. The monitoring and evaluation of programme effectiveness

1. An assessment of the potential for re-working the existing PTCDE materials

1. The development of a detailed proposal for re-working the DE materials

1. Re-working the DE materials

Key: TBT – Task-based Team/IT – Implementation Team/ITL – Implementation Team Leader/IC – International Consultant(s)

5.4Cost estimate and financing plan

Cost items include:

• Technical Inputs from Local and International Consultants

1. Factors Ensuring Sustainability

6.1Policy Support and coordination

The development of Gambia College’s capacity to effectively administer and assess the PTC DE component will contribute significantly to the quality of educational provision through ODL, and to the College’s management of teaching and learning.

6.2Environmental protection

6.3Socio-cultural aspects/gender issues

6.4Institutional and management capacity, public and private

The technical training that the BESPOR project will provide to GambiaCollege staff will build capacity within the institute to design, implement and assess educational management systems.

6.5Economic and financial analysis

1. Monitoring and Evaluation

7.1Monitoring indicators

The indicators will include:

• the completion of the activities stated in Section 5.2 of this report according to the schedule
• the numbers of GambiaCollege staff who received training through the technical inputs
• the ability of the DE Unit to design and implement an effective educational management system related to the PTC DE component.
• An increase in the effectiveness of the PTC programme, to be measured by
• levels of student achievement in assessment
• quality of teaching provided at the school level by Trainee Teachers or newly qualified teachers